FACES ofCARE Celebrating Excellence
IN NURSING NOVEMBER 20 • 2021 V I R T UAL EV EN T
Faces of Care Award winners along with the Next Generation of Care and Lifetime of Care Recipients
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Cong ratu l GCNA salutes all of the
The Greater Cleveland Nurses Association (GCNA) is a dynamic organization whose mission is to work for the improvement of health care for all people in significant and visible ways, to foster high professional standards and to promote the professional development of nurses.
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WELCOME
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ELCOME to the Eleventh Annual Faces of Care presented by the Greater Cleveland Nurses Association (GCNA) and Cleveland Magazine to honor the 2021 outstanding nurses in Northeast Ohio. After two years of collaboration on the Faces of Care Nursing Supplement in the June issue of the 2009 and 2010 Cleveland Magazine, the Faces of Care Gala commenced in 2011. It has continued as a regional celebration honoring the GCNA Lifetime Achievement awardee, nurses working on the frontlines and the next generation of nurses who will join their ranks. Though COVID-19 has shifted our celebration plans, we honor all nurses, especially those facing daily challenges in the work environment. Nursing always adapts to the needs of the community and this year is especially significant! We know how important and dynamic our region’s medical centers, agencies and schools of nursing have influenced the community and the world. We acknowledge and appreciate each of our sponsors, whose generous support allows us to celebrate our area’s nurses Penni Lynn Rolen, PhD(c), MSN, RN President, Greater Cleveland Nurses Association Carol Sams, MSN, RN Executive Director, Greater Cleveland Nurses Association Lute Harmon Jr. Publisher, Cleveland Magazine
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MEET the EMCEE
JEREMIAH Widmer Jeremiah Widmer is the host of The Jeremiah Show on Q104, which can be heard weekdays from 5:30 to 10 a.m. Jeremiah earned his bachelor’s degree in mass media communications from The University of Akron, and was a member of WZIP, the No. 1 student-run college radio station in the country. After graduation he traveled to Los Angeles, where he worked on a variety of television shows, including The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Ellen DeGeneres Show. While in Los Angeles he was featured on USA Networks Character Fantasy: I Wanna Be A Professional Dodgeball Player, and he and his wife were on — and won — The Newlywed Game. He also studied and performed sketch and improvisational comedy at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre. Jeremiah returned to Northeast Ohio, and, in 2013, made the move to Afternoon Drive host at Cleveland’s Star 102 until the creation of The Jeremiah Show in 2016. He is involved with Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and is an advocate for PKU, a metabolic disorder his son was diagnosed with at birth. He is also a board member on the PKU nonprofit MACPAD. Jeremiah lives in Wadsworth with his wife, Jessy, and their sons, Eli and Isaiah, and daughter, Carly.
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2021 Honorees
AKRON CHILDREN’S H O S P I TA L LAUREN BAUMAN, RN, BSN, RNC-NIC
Lauren Bauman, RN, BSN, RNC-NIC, joined Akron Children’s Hospital in 2014. A nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit, she is a leader on the unit, taking time to educate families and co-workers while offering support and comfort during difficult times. In 2020, she earned her neonatal certifications, and her contributions to mentoring and educating new nurses have been recognized with the March of Dimes Top Finalist for Primary Preceptor and Outstanding Preceptor Awards.
CLEVELAND CLINIC PAM ALESSANDRO, Cleveland Clinic
A clinical nurse in the Chronic Care Clinic at Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital, Pam Alessandro, BSN, RN, has spent her 32year career at the hospital adhering to a “patients first” approach. She’s also worked in the cardiac rehabilitation and intensive care unit, where she helped establish the congestive heart failure unit at Marymount and participated in two research studies on patients with heart failure. During COVID-19, she managed monoclonal antibody infusion clinics to help patients recover faster.
ANN BAN, Cleveland Clinic
Ann Ban, BSN, RN, CPAN, has served as a nurse for 22 years and is currently an assistant nurse manager in the post-anesthesia care unit at Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ban stepped up to the plate without hesitation by ensuring her staff attended critical care upskill classes and volunteering her unit for 24-hour call to recover post-operative patients. During that same time, she also studied for and became a certified post-anesthesia nurse. CHERYL CAUSEY, Cleveland Clinic
As a nursing professional development specialist, Cheryl Causey, MSN, RN, is the lead educator for ambulatory nursing practice throughout the Cleveland Clinic Healthcare System. She ensures nurses are educated to care for patients and, in 2020, guided Cleveland Clinic caregivers and local departments of health on COVID swab testing and PPE. She was also pivotal in the development and training for vaccination rollouts. She serves as a member of the Ambulatory Practice Council and the council’s Policy Development Subcommittee.
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FACES of CARE KATHLEEN CHAMBERS, Cleveland Clinic
Kathleen Chambers, MSN, RN, SCRN, CPN, is a stroke program manager at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital. A Cleveland Clinic employee for more than 25 years, she was instrumental in achieving ThrombectomyCapable Stroke Center Certification at Fairview Hospital in 2019. A lifelong learner, Chambers become a stroke certified RN earlier this year. She rounds on all stroke patients and provides education to nurses, residents and patients. Her work has led to improved, more timely care for stroke patients. MELISSA DELGADO, Cleveland Clinic
Melissa Delgado, RN, is a 13-year circulating nurse in the operating room (OR) at Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital who runs the OR efficiently and with a positive outlook, holding a special place in her heart for elderly and young patients. She serves as a unit representative on the Shared Governance Committee, is a Magnet ambassador and a member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses in Northeast Ohio. She is working toward becoming a certified perioperative nurse. ASHLEE FRYMIER, Cleveland Clinic
A clinical nurse and charge nurse in the emergency department (ED) at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Ashlee Frymier, BSN, RN, is a member of the ED’s unit-based council, an instructor for Stop the Bleed and a volunteer 6
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with Habitat for Humanity and United Way, all while coordinating throughput in the 60-bed ED. During the pandemic, she collected funds to provide meals for caregivers on COVID-19 floors. She is pursuing her MSN to be an adultgerontology acute care nurse practitioner. BARBARA GERRETT, Cleveland Clinic
A 30-year nursing veteran, Barbara Gerrett, BSN, RN, is a nursing operators coordinator at Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital and was a member of the team that opened the hospital in 2016. She’s involved in the Nurse Professional Practice Council and Emergency Management Throughput and chairs the Cleveland Clinic Enterprise Nursing Operators Manager Council, where she helped develop the Workplace Violence Forum throughout the Cleveland Clinic. She always makes herself available to educate, comfort and support caregivers at Avon Hospital. JAIME HALL, Cleveland Clinic
Jaime Hall, BSN, RN, has served as a clinical nurse on a medical/surgical and telemetry unit at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus since 2008. During that time, she has helped develop new nurses and has served as a champion for her unit in pain management, geriatrics and diabetes. Always looking for a way to help out in the community, Hall’s latest venture included providing COVID-19 vaccinations to residents in local nursing homes.
DIANE E. KECK, Cleveland Clinic
A 44-year nursing veteran, Diane E. Keck, MSM, BSN, RN, CEN, EMS-I, EMS-B, has been a clinical nurse in the emergency department at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital since 1980. Keck is dedicated to treating patients like family, holding their hands, actively listening and advocating for the best outcomes. A member of the Ohio Association for Healthcare Quality, Keck has shared her knowledge in poster presentations and a 2018 Journal of Nursing Administration article on the shared governance culture. LYNNE KOKOCZKA, Cleveland Clinic
Lynne Kokoczka, MSN, APRN-CNS, ACCNS-AG, CCRN, has been an RN for 14 years and a clinical nurse specialist for six years. She is a member of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and president of the Lake Erie Chapter of AACN. Her honors include the American Red Cross Acts of Courage Award, the American Heart Association Heartsaver Hero Award and special congressional recognition by U.S. Congressman James Renacci. ROSA KOVACH, Cleveland Clinic
Rosa Kovach, BSN, RN, is a clinical nurse in the emergency department (ED) at Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital. She channeled her compassion when she knew she was going to lose a COVID-19 patient early in the
pandemic. She sat with the patient, held his hand and paged spiritual care, who administered last rites over the phone. A nurse for seven years, she orients new staff in the ED and serves as a clinical instructor at Herzing University. MARK H. KUCZIN, Cleveland Clinic
As an assistant nurse manager on a medical/ surgical nursing unit at Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital, Mark H. Kuczin, MSN, RN, forms the foundation of the unit after 15 years of service there. He is a member of the unit-based Shared Governance Council and, in 2020, earned the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses. A team player, Kuczin doesn’t shy away from taking on extra assignments and coaches both young and seasoned nurses seeking his guidance. JESSICA RASTETTER, Cleveland Clinic
A nursing operations manager at Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital and a vascular access resources nurse, Jessica Rastetter, BSN, RN, always wears her nursing hat. After witnessing a motorcycle accident just last year, she assisted two people with traumatic injuries before EMS arrived, which helped save their lives. She also serves as co-chair of the Shared Governance Nursing Practice Council and is a member of the Enterprise Nursing Practice Council and the Greater Cleveland Organization for Nursing Leadership.
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FACES of CARE FEATURED NURSES Congratulations to the following RNs who were nominated by their peers and demonstrate the vision of Florence Nightingale in the present day. They were featured in the July 2021 issue of Cleveland Magazine.
Top row (L to R) Shauna Payne Case Manager Visiting Nurse Association Janterria Matthews Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing Cleveland State University Meredith Foxx Executive Chief Nursing Officer Cleveland Clinic Health System Bottom row (L to R) Judy Bartel Chief Clinical Officer Hospice of the Western Reserve Denise Matthews Chief Nurse of Psychiatry and Mental Health Programs, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
From your exemplary work to your continuous dedication. You reflect our world class care. Congratulations to the nurses being recognized as the Faces of Care Award recipients. Thank you for the impact you’ve made in the nursing community.
ClevelandClinic.org/Nursing
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Compassionate. Courageous. Unstoppable.
We salute our remarkable nurses, who make sure nothing stands in the way of caring for kids and their families – every single day.
A K R O N C H I L D R E N S . O R G
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Thank you for the difficult and often heartbreaking work that you do each and every day. Your sacrifice and dedication deserve the highest of honors.
NEXT GENERATION of Care Award ABOUT THE AWARD // The Next Generation of Care Award is bestowed upon one distinguished student from an institution of higher learning in Northeast Ohio. Each participating institution is asked to nominate their “Best of the Best” student for consideration by the selection panel. Although only one award recipient is named each year, all nominated students are exceedingly worthy of the award and are recognized as such at the event. We applaud the nominated students for their hard work and passion in the nursing field and wish them the best as they continue on through their career.
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LESLIE ADELMAN, Ursuline College
Leslie Adelman, BSN-RN, stood out from her peers for her “eagerness to learn; enthusiasm for the art of nursing;
excellent communication skills with patients, families, and staff and, most notably, her determination to make a difference in her patients’ lives,” said Clinical Instructor Kristina Lester, BSN, RN. “In the first week of her externship at University Hospitals, Leslie was caring for a terminally ill patient who was being withdrawn from life support. Even though he was non-verbal, she held his hand, provided comfort, and when she noticed he was becoming restless and agitated, she approached both the resident and the attending physician regarding the need for IV morphine. Nothing had been ordered and neither provider felt it was necessary until Leslie stepped up and advocated for the patient, stating he deserved to die with dignity. Consequently, the resident placed an order for IV morphine and the patient
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was enabled to die with dignity. “Leslie was with the patient and his wife as he passed away and provided emotional support to his wife following the patient’s death,” Lester said. “As a clinical instructor, I had never witnessed a student stepping out of their comfort zone to advocate for a patient. Her professional, yet passionate, manner was so commendable that, later in the shift, both physicians informed her preceptor how impressed and moved they were.” Leslie’s compassion for others and determination to serve are even more poignant considering her own history of serious medical challenges. Instructor Sandra Mastrodonato, MSN, RN, said, “She had such a positive attitude, even facing brain surgery. Having been a patient, she can empathize with her patients. When she returned from her
Career You want to help others. Help shape the future of health care.
rn to bsn • msn • dnp
surgery, she just dove back into school and made it a priority to complete what she had missed. She is an inspiration to other nursing students.” Assistant Professor Kimberly DillonBleich PhD, RN, agreed, adding that other nursing students could learn from Leslie to think more about the needs of others. “Leslie endured multiple setbacks to progression in nursing school, due to her health. Each time she came back with a positive attitude. Two months before graduation, she needed to have another surgery. She left a heartfelt video for her classmates, motivating, supporting and challenging them to finish strong in case she could not connect with them again before they graduated. She truly demonstrated care for their success at a time when her own future was uncertain.”
Learn. Lead. Care. Pursue the nursing career of your dreams in Cleveland and beyond with a top-ranked degree from Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University. #5 DNP in Leadership #7 MSN in Acute Gerontological Care #8MSN in Mental Health Learn more at case.edu/nursing
ursuline.edu/breen
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LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Award DOROTHY JEAN HAMILTON PHD., MSN, ACNP-BC, CNE, ALUMNUS CCRN Dorothy Jean Hamilton, PhD, MSN, RN, APRN, ACNP-BC, CNE, CCRN, Alumnus is currently a Clinical Associate Professor at Cleveland State University School of Nursing (SON). She is a graduate of: Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1988; Case Western Reserve University with a Master of Science in Nursing in 1996 and a Doctoral degree in nursing from Kent State University in 2020. Dorothy has been an Assistant Nurse Manager at Cleveland Clinic in the Cardiothoracic units and a Clinical Instructor in the Cardiac ICU prior to becoming an Acute Nurse Practitioner at University Hospitals. She has multiple certifications that she keeps current. Dorothy has been a member of Greater Cleveland Nurses Association (GCNA) for over 30 years and continues to support the mission of the organization. She constantly recruits for GCNA and remains active in volunteering at yearly events to support GCNA and the Boys and Girl Club of Northeast OH. Dorothy is a voice for nurses on all levels. She has history of serving on the GCNA board of directors as President, Secretary and Director of Education. Dorothy served on the ONA Board as a Director, Unstructured and has served as a delegate to the ONA Convention on multiple occasions. She has several publications and continues to practice as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. She also served on the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Board was an item writer for the ACNP exam for four years. She is a mentor to new faculty at Cleveland State University, new graduate nurses, new nurse leaders and nurses new to GCNA. She is involved on committees at GCNA. Her innovation and knowledge help to keep moving GCNA forward. In her career, she has been awarded for both her knowledge and expertise. She was inducted into the Dorothy Cornelius Congress in 2011 by the Ohio Nurses Association and was nominated for Clinical Excellence Award for Nurse Practitioner several times at University Hospitals.
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WE’RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE NURSES OF O I H O T S A E H NORT Eleven years ago, Cleveland Magazine and The Greater Cleveland Nurses Association got together and identified the lack of a local event to honor area nurses who are making a difference in Northeast Ohio. Together, we developed the Faces of Care awards program. And now, in our 11th year, we continue to celebrate the area’s most influential nurses who are paving the way for those who follow.
FACES of CARE THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 SPONSORS
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